Hanoi and many localities across the country are entering intense hot days with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius at times. In harsh weather conditions, cases of heat shock, stroke and cardiovascular events tend to increase, especially in the elderly and people with underlying diseases.
According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Truong Son, Director of the Institute of Cardiology, Head of the Cardiovascular Department of Central Military Hospital 108 (Hanoi), prolonged hot weather makes the body prone to dehydration, electrolyte disorders and affects the cardiovascular system. However, many people still confuse heatstroke with stroke, leading to slow treatment and missing important emergency time.
Doctors said that heat shock mainly affects the nervous system and often occurs when the patient is in a temperature environment that is too high. People with heat shock often have symptoms of exhaustion, hot body, gradually faint consciousness, increased discomfort but no weakness or paralysis of limbs appears.
Stroke has more sudden onset signs. Patients may experience distorted mouth, difficulty speaking, weakness or paralysis of limbs. Meanwhile, heat shock mainly affects consciousness, patients are drowsy but do not show signs of paralysis of limbs," the doctor shared, these are important differences to recognize early.
The Department of Disease Prevention (Ministry of Health) recommends that people limit going outdoors during hot weather, especially from 10-16 am. People in air-conditioned rooms should not go out suddenly but need to let their bodies gradually adapt to the ambient temperature.
People should wear bright, cool clothes, increase green vegetables, fruits and drink from 1.5 - 2 liters of water per day, divided into many times. At the same time, it is necessary to maintain appropriate exercise to improve resistance.
For outdoor workers, work time should be arranged in the early morning or late afternoon, avoiding continuous work in high temperature environments. After about 45 minutes to 1 hour of work, you should rest in a cool place for 15 - 20 minutes.
At the same time, when working outdoors, it is necessary to use helmets, glasses, protective clothing and minimize the skin area directly exposed to sunlight.
